Spring movie preview

Already in theaters

Photo courtesy of Blue Sky Studios/Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Already in Theaters: Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who!--Dr. Seuss' classic tale about an elephant named Horton (voiced by Jim Carrey, last seen in Whoville as, you may recall, The Grinch) who hears a cry for help from a tiny speck of dust gets all computer-animated in this family flick. Horton Hears a Who also features the voices of Steve Carell, Carol Burnett, Seth Rogan and Will Arnett and was directed by Jimmy Hayward and Steve Martino. Official Web site: www.hortonmovie.com

Funny Games--Naomi Watts and Tim Roth star in this thriller about a vacationing couple who become terrorized and tortured by two sadistic young men. Funny Games also stars Naomi Watts, Tim Roth, Brady Corbet, Devon Gearhart and Michael Pitt and was directed by Michael Haneke. Official Web site: funnygames-themovie.com

Doomsday--After a deadly virus has decimated most of Eastern Europe, a group of survivors located in a "hot zone" indicate a possible cure and a team is sent in to retrieve them. Doomsday also stars Rhona Mitra, Bob Hoskins, Alexander Siddig, Adrian Lester and Sean Pertwee and was directed by Neil Marshall (The Descent). Official Web site: doomsdayiscoming.com

Never Back Down--In this teen flick (which appears to be a modernized, more hardcore version of The Karate Kid), a recently relocated high schooler is mentored in the sport known as MMA (Mixed Marshall Arts) in order to stand up to a bully. Where's Mr. Miyagi and his crane kick when you need him?! Never Back Down also stars Sean Faris, Amber Heard, Djimon Hounsou, Cam Gigandet and Even Peters and was directed by Jeff Wadlow (Cry Wolf).Official Web site: neverbackdownthemovie.com

March 21Drillbit Taylor--Owen Wilson stars in this comedy about a bargain basement bodyguard who is hired by three nerdy teens to protect them from the school bully. Again, where's Mr. Miyagi?! Drillbit Taylor also stars Alex Frost, Matt Gallini, Troy Gentile and Nate Hartley and was directed by Steven Brill (Mr. Deeds).Official Web site: www.drillbittaylor.com

The Grand--This ensemble, improvisational mockumentary in the vein of Best in Show, A Mighty Wind and This is Spinal Tap stars Woody Harrelson, Richard Kind, Dennis Farina, Ray Romano, David Cross and Cheryl Hines and follows six poker players playing in the Grand Championship of Poker. The Grand also stars Werner Herzog, Richard Kind, Woody Harrelson, Ray Liotta and Ray Romano and was directed by Zak Penn. Official Web site: thegrandthemovie.com

Photo courtesy of Warner Brothers Pictures

10,000 BC--Director Roland Emmerich (The Day After Tomorrow, ID4) brings us saber-toothed tigers and woolly mammoths galore in this prehistoric action adventure tale of a young hunter on a dangerous quest to save the woman he loves. 10,000 BC stars Steven Strait, Camilla Belle, Cliff Curtis, Omar Shariff and Timothy Barlow. Official Web site: www.10000bcmovie.com

Meet the Browns--In this comedy, a single mother reconnects with her father and his oddball family. Meet the Browns also stars Tyler Perry, Angela Bassett, Jennifer Lewis, Tamela J. Mann and Chloe Bailey and was directed by Tyler Perry (Diary of a Mad Black Woman). Official Web site: meetthebrownsfilm.com

Shutter--In this paranormal thriller, a newly married couple discover disturbing, ghostly images in their vacation photos. Hope they didn't waste their money on double prints. Shutter also stars Rachel Taylor, Joshua Jackson, David Denman, James Kyson Lee and Maya Hazen and was directed by Masayuki Ochiai. Official Web site: www.shutter-movie.com

March 2821--Based on a true story (and the book Bringing Down the House by Ben Mezrich), this drama centers on a group of MIT students who, along with their professor (Kevin Spacey), use their extraordinary math skills to rake in big bucks playing blackjack in Vegas. 21 also stars Jim Sturgess, Masi Oka, Kate Bosworth and Laurence Fishburne and was directed by Robert Luketic (Legally Blonde). Official Web site: sonypictures.com/movies/21

Chapter 27 --Jared Leto stars in this drama as Mark David Chapman in the days leading up to his assassination of John Lennon. Chapter 27 also stars Lindsay Lohan, Matthew Humphreys, Brian O'Neill and Adam Scarimbolo and was directed by Jarrett Schaefer. Official Web site: Coming Soon

Possession--Sarah Michelle Gellar stars in yet another supernatural thriller, this one as the wife of a man who is in a car accident with his brother, which leaves them both comatose. When the brother suddenly wakes up, he believes he's actually her husband. Feel free to re-read that if you need to. Possession also stars Lee Pace, Tuva Novotny, Joel Bergwall and Dhirendra and was directed by Joel Bergwall and Simon Sandquist. Official Web site: www.possessionmovie.com

Run, Fatboy, Run--Friends star David Schwimmer makes his directorial debut with this comedy about an out of shape (yet hardly "fat" as the title misleadingly suggests) guy (Simon Pegg, Hot Fuzz) who tries to win back the girl of his dreams by training for and running a marathon. Run, Fatboy, Run also stars Hank Azaria, Thandie Newton, Ameet Chana and Dylan Moran. Official Web site: runfatboyrunmovie.com

Stop-Loss--Ryan Phillippe stars in this drama as an Iraq war vet whose celebratory return home is cut abruptly short when the Army orders him to return to the battlefield. Stop-Loss also stars Abbie Cornish, Channing Tatum, Rob Brown and Alex Frost and was directed by Kimberly Ane Pierce (Boys Don't Cry). Official Web site: www.stoplossmovie.com

Superhero Movie--Comic book movies are the target of this spoof that centers on a high school student who's bitten by a radioactive dragonfly. Get it? Like Spider-man, but ... well, you know. Superhero Movie stars Christopher McDonald, Leslie Nielsen, Marlon Ross, Jeffrey Tambor and Brent Spiner and was directed by Craig Mazin (The Specials). Official Web site: www.superhero-movie.net

April 4My Blueberry Nights--Musician Norah Jones leads this story of a heartbroken young woman who goes on a soul-searching trip across America, meeting a variety of characters along the way. My Blueberry Nights also stars Jude Law, Natalie Portman, Rachel Weisc and David Strathairn and was directed by Wong Kar Wai. Official Web site:myblueberrynightsmovie.co.uk

Nim's Island--Abigail Breslin (Definitely, Maybe) stars in this family fantasy adventure about a young girl who teams up with the author (Jodie Foster) of her favorite adventure books in order to save her imaginary world. Nim's Island also stars Gerard Butler, Alphonso McAuley (Little Manhattan) and Peter Callan and was directed by Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett. Official Web site: www.nimsisland.com

The Ruins--In this horror flick, a group of friends vacationing in Mexico enter a world of terror when they go exploring near some mysterious ruins (hence the title). The Ruins also stars Jonathan Tucker, Laura Ramsey, Jena Malone and Shawn Ashmore and was directed by Carter Smith. Official Web site: www.ruinsmovie.com

Shine a Light--The Rolling Stones are the subject of this concert film directed by none other than Martin Scorsese (The Departed). This seems like the least he could so for all the times he's used their songs in his movies. And while it's said that a rolling stone gathers no moss, as evidenced in this flick's trailer alone, these particular Stones seem to have gathered quiet a bit of wrinkles. Shine a Light stars Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ron Wood. Official Web site: www.shinealightmovie.com

April 11Prom Night--Yet another '80s slasher flick gets a remake. This aptly titled one sees a psychopath terrorizing kids at their high school prom. Prom Night stars Brittany Snow, Johnathon Schaech, Brianne Davis, Kelly Blatz and Jana Kramer and was directed by Nelson McCormick. Official Web site: www.sonypictures.com/movies/promnight

Smart People--Dennis Quaid stars in this dramedy as a self-absorbed literature professor who falls for a former student. Smart People also stars Thomas Haden Church, Sarah Jessica Parker, Ellen Page and Camille Mana and was directed by Noam Murro.Official Web site: smartpeople-themovie.com

Street Kings--Keanu Reeves dons an LAPD uniform to star in this drama as a cop who is implicated in the murder of a fellow officer. That officer's name? Bill S. Preston, Esq. Just kiddin'. Street Kings also stars Forest Whitaker, Hugh Laurie Chris Evans and Jay Mohr and was directed by David Ayer (Harsh Times).Official Web site: www.foxsearchlight.com/streetkings

April 1888 Minutes--Al Pacino heads up this thriller as a forensic psychiatrist for the FBI who receives a death threat that leaves him with an hour and 28 minutes left to live. Significance of the time allotted to be revealed at a later date. 88 Minutes also stars Alicia Witt, Leelee Sobieski, Neal McDonough and Benjamin McKenzie and was directed by Jon Avnet (Fried Green Tomatoes).Official Web site: www.88minutestolive.com

Forgetting Sarah Marshall--In this romantic comedy, a guy (Jason Segal, Knocked Up) heads to Hawaii to recover from being dumped by his girlfriend (Kristen Bell) only to find she is also there, staying in the same hotel as he is, in the room right next to his, with her new boyfriend. Aloha and good luck, buddy. Forgetting Sarah Marshall also stars Mila Kunis, Russell Brand and Bill Hader and was directed by Nicholas Stoller. Official Web site: www.forgettingsarahmarshall.com

April 25Baby Mama--Tina Fey (TV's 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live veteran) stars in this comedy about a single woman who wants to have a baby, but can't, so she enlists a questionable surrogate (Amy Poehler, from SNL as well) who ends up on her doorstep with nowhere else to live. Baby Mama also stars Sigourney Weaver, Dax Shepard and Gred Kinnear and was directed by Michael McCullers.

Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay--This sequel to the stoner hit from '04 continues the misadventures of the title duo after they are mistakenly suspected as terrorists and end up in the Cuban military prison of the title. Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay also stars John Cho, Kal Penn, Eric Winter, David Krumholtz and Neil Patrick Harris and was directed by Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Scholssberg.Official Web site: www.haroldandkumar.com

Redbelt--In this martial arts flick, a legendary jiu-jitsu instructor who had always refused to compete finds he must reluctantly do so in order to pay off his mounting debts. Redbelt also stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tim Allen, Emily Mortimer, Alice Braga and Joe Mantegna and was directed by David Mamet (Heist).Official Web site: www.sonyclassics.com/redbelt

The Tourist/The List/Deception--Hugh Jackman and Ewan McGregor star in this thriller (its final title is actually yet to be determined ... vote for your favorite now) about an accountant who becomes a suspect in a woman's disappearance. The Tourist also stars Michelle Williams, Natasha Henstridge and Maggie Q and was directed by Marcel Langenegger. Official Web site: Coming Soon

Then She Found Me--Helen Hunt directs and stars in this drama about a teacher whose life is turned upside down after her husband leaves her, her adopted mother dies and her real mother begins dating the father of one of her students. Then She Found Me also stars Bette Midler, Colin Firth, Matthew Broderick and Lynn Cohen and was directed by Helen Hunt. Official Web site: Coming Soon

All dates are subject to change without notice.

The author, a Delavannative, is an art director at The Cimarron Group, a motion picture and television advertising company in Los Angeles.